St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-24
EX-GOv. Hubbard Insists that
Red Wing Must Have a Man
On the Commission
Which Will Have Charge of
Fixing the New Reform
School Site.
The Place at Red Wing Which
Offers the Most Suitable
Conditions.
A Bit Of Land that Is Slightly,
Healthy and Easy Of
Access.

''Politics has no bearing whatever"
said eX-GOv. Hubbard, of Red Wing,
last night, $50 long as we get one of our
citizens appointed on the board of man.
ayers of the state reform school, and if
Gov. McGill would nominate good
Democrat to succeed C. III. Petit, of
Minneapolis, there would be no Oppo-
SitiOn. This will be the stand that we
shall take Friday when we present our
petition, but we shall insist as matter
of justice that one representative at
least of the town chosen by the commits
sion as a site for the relocation of the
school shall be member of the board
1t is the rule all over the state, wherever
an institution is situated, and we do not
think that we are asking too much to
request that Red Wing be placed on the
same footing with other cities in Min
neSOta.
According to the latest statement
from Mr.. Murray the school is to be sent
to Red Wing, but this is only in keep
ing with assurances that he has given
hitherto, and which have not amounted
to anything. While we will not present
the name of any person to the governor
as the successor of Mr.. Petit, if Dem
Ocrat should be selected to receive the
appointment, | know of no one better
qualified III every way as representa-
tive citizen of Red Wing than Hon. o.
Nj. Hall, who is actively identified with
everything that can cOnduce to the prog
reSS OF our city. Our people are unani-
nous in their determination that the
law shall be enforced regarding this
site question, and | don't see how Gov.
McGill can consistently refuse request
from county that has always stood by
him in the conventions and at the polls.
We merely want our rights, and do not
consider that we have asked ANYTHING
that could be construed to be unreaSOn-
able"
TIE PROPOSED SITE.
Overlooking the Cannon river on the
west. and with the Mississippi LAYING its
northern boundary. is the site selected
by the commission for the proposed re-
form school, about which there is so
much agitation at Red Wing. A pleas
ant drive of about three miles brings
the visitor to the Spates farm, which is
the principal one of the four farms Sc
lected. embracing about $50 acres, or
nearly nine times that of the present
location at Midway. The land is con-
sidered, so far as farming purposes are
concerned, some of the best in the state;
at least that was the verdict of Prof
Porter, of the state agricultural college.
when he inspected it short time ago
in company with GOV. McGill and the
members of the commission. Upon
what is known as the second plateau of
the bluffs contiguous to Red Wing and
about 100 feet above the level of tie
Mississippi river, it has been suggested
that the boys school should be erected.
overlooking the Cannon river and
valley, and within score of rods of the
Chicago, St. Paul & Milwaukee road.
a switch has already been put in al this
point, and flag station will be eStab-
llShed, the railroad company agreeing
to have at least one train day stop at
this point. In order that better idea
of the site may be obtained, passengers
by this line will remember that the train
goes OH to a side track short distance
from Red Wing to wait for the Chicago
fast mail train to pass. The Reform
school site is OH the bluff just overhead
at this point, and the view of the
surrounding country from this point
Is not eXcelled anywhere in the state.
Looking to the east is the limestone
landmark, towering 800 feet in the air
and known as Barn bluff, with the thriv-
ing city of Red Wing nesting at its
base, and to the n0rthward are the rocky
banks of the Mississippi river, while the
Father of Waters moves along in its
progress to the gulf, presenting i'll the
distance
BEAUTIFUL. PICTURE.
which the setting suns rays frame into
the resemblance of a mirror of gold.
Cannon river OH the west and Spring
creek on the south are also conspicuous
figures in the gorgeous landscape, and
furnish the best recommendation pos
Sible for an abundance of running water.
Then. too, the site is fully 100 feet above
the bed of the river, and thus splendid
drainage facilities are afforded, a great
deSideratum for institutions of this kind.
In fact, it seems as though nature had
intended this spot for the location of
some institution and reform school at
this point could not be better situated,
for everything necessary to comfort and
conducive to the enjoyment of the MEM
bers seems to be at hand. A short dis
tance from the Spates' farm an artesian
well. flowing at the rate Of fifty gallons
minute, gives indisputable evidence
of the presence of clear, palatable drink
ing water which was struck at depth
of $50 feet.
About sixty rods eastward of the site
that has been proposed for the BOYS
school and facing Red Wing is another
level plateau which 1t has been Sug-
geSted might be devoted to the uses of
the girls department of the institution.
These are only made in the nature of
suggestions, however, the final decision
being left entirely to the discretion of
the commission in charge of the work
the advantage in having the boys located
near the Cannon river is that they can
go in bathing or swimming and would
be removed safe distance from the
female department., so that the most
captious could not find fault about the
proximity of the sexes. Finer farm
land cannot be found than that included
in the four farms purchased, and as it is
proposed to instruct the boys in stock
raising and other branches of practi-
cal farmers life, the meadows and
bottom lands adjacent to the rivers
could be utilized for these purposes,
for which they are so well adapted.
When the commission appointed to Sc
lect site were making their inyestiga-
lions, they stated that they wanted good
farm land, an abundance of running
water, good drainage facilities, and
above all, easy methods of communica-
ton, and these four essentials the peo-
pie of Red Wing think they have pro-
vided without any question for the re-
form school.
u